Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Natural Sciences and Humanities

Where science, the humanities, arts and society engage in dialogue

The Interdisciplinary Laboratory for the Natural Sciences and Humanites (ILAS) is SISSA’s hub for bridging science with society. Founded in 1986, ILAS promotes critical reflection, cross-sector education, and innovative forms of science communication.

Our activities span three key areas:

  • Advanced postgraduate programs (Masters) designed to train professionals at the intersection of science, technology, and society
  • A rich calendar of public events and outreach initiatives that foster dialogue between research and the wider community
  • A sustained focus on the impact of AI on society, on investigative data journalism, European training programs, and training opportunities that explore new ways to connect science, education, and civic engagement. Through these multifaceted activities, ILAS embodies SISSA’s mission of advancing a responsible, open, and inclusive scientific culture

The mission of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Natural Sciences and Humanities (ILAS) is to create a space where science, the humanities and the arts can engage in dialogue with one another and with society, in order to imagine, inspire and help shape a shared future. Within the context of excellence of SISSA’s cutting-edge research, the Laboratory is a meeting place for diverse knowledge, questions and perspectives, which cross-fertilise and enrich one another.

The Laboratory addresses diverse audiences: it offers scientists a space for exchange with complementary knowledge, different perspectives, and humanistic and artistic approaches, fostering new ways of interpreting their own work and research practice. For citizens, it offers opportunities for active participation in scientific research, making it more accessible, closer and more inclusive. For communication professionals, it offers innovative models of dialogue and cultural mediation, together with training opportunities and the development of transversal skills. Finally, for institutions, it stands as a point of reference where frontier research is integrated with communication, critical reflection and the promotion of scientific culture in dialogue with humanistic culture.

ILAS is a leading cultural and scientific hub, capable of generating unsuspected connections and launching high-impact projects. We experiment with new formats, languages and modes of interaction, in line with contemporary transformations, fostering the emergence and consolidation of interdisciplinary collaborative networks at national and international level. Our activities currently focus on the areas of data-driven investigative journalism, critical analysis of science communication, and the strengthening of collaborations with cultural, civic and social organisations.

One the main strategic axes of ILAS is the reflection on the role, development and impact of artificial intelligence on science and society In this area, ILAS promotes dialogue among the public, the scientific community and policymakers, fostering an open, informed and responsible exchange. Through an inclusive, critical and change-oriented approach, ILAS aims to be a driver of reflection and active participation, making a significant contribution to SISSA’s public engagement mission and to building a more aware, better informed and inclusive society.

ILAS - the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Natural Sciences and Humanities of SISSA - was established in 1986 to help link research, culture, institutions, communication and public participation. Its foundation is intertwined with the launch, in 1993, of the Master in Science Communication “Franco Prattico” (MCS), the first postgraduate course in Italy dedicated to training science communication professionals. More recently, the establishment of the Master in High Performance Computing (MHPC) and the Master in Data Management and Curation (MDMC) reflect the Laboratory’s evolution towards new areas of education and research.

Over time, ILAS has broadened its role, establishing itself as a reference centre for the interaction between research, citizenship and culture. Its teaching activities include summer schools aimed at expert audiences and advanced training programmes. In the past, the Laboratory ran several masters and advanced courses that included the Master in Modelling, the Master in Digital Science Journalism, the Master in Complex Actions and the Course in Financial Mathematics. At the international level, ILAS takes part in numerous European and PNRR (Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan) projects dedicated to science communication and the promotion of scientific culture, strengthening its network of collaborations. In parallel, it carries out a rich programme of outreach through exhibitions, publications, conferences and events open to the public, in collaboration with public and private bodies. Among the most significant initiatives is the Scienza e Virgola festival, whcih celebrated in 2026 its tenth edition and each year turns the city and wider region into a meeting space for science, media, literature and the public.

Over time, ILAS has been led by prominent figures of the academic and scientific scene, including Paolo Budinich, Stefano Fantoni, Roberto Iengo, Vincent Torre, Giuseppe Mussardo, Andrea Gambassi and, currently, Roberto Trotta. Today ILAS is a cultural and scientific hub that connects research and society, promotes informed scientific citizenship and stimulates reflection on emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, research ethics and the impact of science on our collective future. With an eye to innovation, the Laboratory continues to explore new languages and modes of interaction, consolidating its role within SISSA as a space for education, exchange and cultural transformation.

Education and training

In collaboration with SISSA’s Communication Office and SISSA Medialab, ILAS contributes to science communication courses for researchers, lecturers, journalists and other professionals. The courses respond to participants’ needs through interactive teaching, practical exercises and peer learning. Topics include scientific writing, public speaking, media relations, digital communication and the design of events for different audiences.

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The School of Neuroethics is an interdisciplinary advanced training initiative connecting neuroscience, philosophy, psychology and clinical practice. Through lectures, seminars and discussion, it examines the ethical, epistemological and social implications of knowledge about the brain and human behaviour. Particular attention is paid to autonomy, responsibility and vulnerability in the study and treatment of addiction. The School brings together researchers, clinicians and scholars of neuroethics and bioethics, combining theoretical reflection with applied perspectives.

Since 2021, ILAS has supported investigative journalism through research and advanced training fellowships. The initiative promotes investigations grounded in the scientific method and data analysis, with a focus on matters of public interest such as health, the environment and the social implications of artificial intelligence.

Collaboration between journalists and SISSA researchers brings together data analysis, scientific expertise and reporting. Projects have explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare and the environmental value of Italian wetlands. In 2025–2026, a collaboration with the independent media organisation FACTA supported investigations into compulsory psychiatric treatment in Italy and the ownership of agricultural land in Europe, with contributions from SISSA data science PhD students.

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Projects and collaborations

ILAS works with universities, research institutions, cultural organisations and public and private partners in Italy and abroad. European projects and initiatives funded through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) have supported training, science communication and new forms of participation in research and scientific culture.

PATTERN promoted Open and Responsible Research and Innovation through the development and testing of training for the research community. At SISSA, the project involved ILAS alongside the Research and International Relations Office, the Communication Office, and the Valorisation and Innovation Office.

Its training pathways covered open access, research integrity, management and leadership, FAIR data management, science communication, dissemination and exploitation of results, citizen science, and gender and inclusion in research. ILAS contributed to training in science communication and the dissemination and exploitation of research results, with activities in English aimed particularly at PhD students and researchers.

The project concluded in June 2026. Training materials were prepared for the OpenPlato and Zenodo platforms to support their continued use beyond the project.

Educating Future Citizens (EFC) brought together eight Italian university Schools of Advanced Studies to strengthen educational guidance and advanced training for upper-secondary school and university students. Funded through the PNRR and coordinated by the IUSS School of Pavia, it developed seminars, mentoring, residential activities and online learning opportunities.

ILAS contributed to interdisciplinary training, working with SISSA’s Communication Office on the project’s activities. Initiatives included courses in science communication, a workshop on data and satellite journalism, and discussion of the impact of artificial intelligence on research and higher education.

The Laboratory’s international work has included SCIRAB (Science in Radio Broadcasting), GAPP (Gender Awareness Participation Process), ESConet (European Science Communication Network), brains in dialogue, CommHERE (Communication of European Health Research) and NERRI (Neuro-Enhancement: Responsible Research and Innovation). These projects explored science communication, public participation and the ethical and social dimensions of research.

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